King Thong Lan () was a king of Ayutthaya, an ancient kingdom in Thailand.

A son of Borommarachathirat I and member of the Suphannaphum Dynasty, Thong Lan succeeded his father to the throne of Ayutthaya in 750 LE (1931 BE, 1388/89 CE) at the age of 15. Having reigned for only seven days, he was deposed and executed in a coup by Ramesuan, his relative from the Uthong Dynasty.

Thong Lan was the first monarch of Ayutthaya to be executed.Čhansuwan, 2011: 22.

Name + List of abbreviations in this article Abbreviation For BE Thai Buddhist Era CE Common Era LE Lesser Era

The child king is known as Thong Lan (; ) in most historical sources, including the British Museum Chronicle,Prachum phongsāwadān phāk thī pǣtsip sǭng.., 1994: 13. the Luang Prasoet Chronicle,Prachum phongsāwadān chabap kānčhanāphisēk lem nưng, 1999: 213. and the Phan Channumat Chronicle.Phrarātchaphongsāwadān krung sī ‘ayutthayā chabap phan čhannumāt..., 2010: 45.

Thong () means "gold". Lan () is an archaic word whose meaning is not known.Phrarātchaphongsāwadān chabap phrarātchahatthalēkhā lem nưng, 1991: 209–210.

Historian Suchit Wongthet () expressed the opinion that lan here is an old Thai–Lao term which encyclopediae say refers to "eel trap made of bamboo". The historian stated that naming a person after an animal trapping device was an ancient practice, citing the personal name of King Rama I, Thong Duang (), which means "golden snare".Wongthēt, 2014: online.

The Bradley Chronicle, however, says the name of the boy king was Thong Lan (; ; "cry of stomach").Phrarātchaphongsāwadān krung sayām chabap mǭ bratle, 2006: 13.

Thong Lan is known as Thong Chan (; ; "golden moon" or "moon gold") in the Phonnarat ChronicleSomdet Phra Phonnarat (Kǣo), 2015: 13. and the Royal Autograph Chronicle.Phrarātchaphongsāwadān chabap phrarātchahatthalēkhā lem nưng, 1991: 59.

In the Minor Wars Chronicle, he is referred to in Pali as Suvaṇṇacanda (in Thai script: สุวณฺณจนฺท; "golden moon").Somdet Phra Phonnarat (Kǣo), 1932: 41.

The Van Vliet Chronicle, a Dutch document written by Jeremias Van Vliet in 1640 CE, refers to him as Thong t'Jan.Van Vliet, 2003: 34.

Family All historical documents say Thong Lan was a son of Borommarachathirat I.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, 2011: 59.

Life

Political background The Kingdom of Ayutthaya was jointly founded by the royal houses of Uthong and Suphannaphum, which were related through marriage.Kasētsiri, 2005: 4–5. The first monarch of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi I, was from Uthong. He appointed his son, Ramesuan, the ruler of Lop Buri.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, 2011: 50. He also appointed Boromrachathirat I, his relative from Suphannaphum, the ruler of Suphan Buri.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, 2011: 56.

In 731 LE (1912 BE, 1369/70 CE), Ramathibodi I died. Ramesuan came from Lop Buri and succeeded to the throne of Ayutthaya.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, 2011: 51.

In 732 LE (1913 BE, 1370/71 CE), Borommarachathirat I marched his army from Suphan Buri to Ayutthaya. Ramesuan then "presented" the throne to him and returned to Lop Buri as before.

Reign In 750 LE (1931 BE, 1388/89 CE), Boromrachathirat I led his army to attack Chakangrao. But he fell ill and died en route.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, 2011: 57. His son, Thong Lan, then succeeded to the throne of Ayutthaya.

Thai chronicles state that Thong Lan was 15 years of age when he ascended the throne in 750 LE (1931 BE, 1388/89 CE). Based on this information, Thong Lan was possibly born in 735 LE (1916 BE, 1373/74 CE). But the Dutch document Van Vliet Chronicle says he was 17 when ascending the throne.

After Thong Lan had reigned for merely seven days, Ramesuan came from Lop Buri with his army and seized the throne. Ramesuan had Thong Lan put to death at a Buddhist temple called Wat Khok Phraya (). Thong Lan was killed by hitting his neck with a Sandalwood club, a traditional means for executing a royal person.Kasētsiri, 2005: 22. Ramesuan then became king of Ayutthaya for the second time.Čhansuwan, 2011: 18.

Historian Damrong Rajanubhab introduced a theory that Boromrachathirat I brought his army to Ayutthaya in 732 LE because of certain political problems that Ramesuan was unable to deal with. The two might have agreed that Ramesuan would let Boromrachathirat rule Ayutthaya and the latter would declare the former his successor. Ramesuan thus presented the throne of Ayutthaya to Boromrachathirat and returned to his old base, Lop Buri. But when it appeared that the agreement was breached and Boromrachathirat was instead succeeded by his son, Thong Lan, Ramesuan then seized the throne and killed Thong Lan.Phrarātchaphongsāwadān chabap phrarātchahatthalēkhā lem nưng, 1991: 209.

Modern scholars believe otherwise. Suchit Wongthet () expressed the opinion that Boromrachathirat's arrival in Ayutthaya with troops was apparently to "seize power by means of military force (called coup in our days)" and Ramesuan returned to Lop Buri just to accumulate more power and wait for an opportunity to strike back.Wongthēt, 2013: online. Pramin Khrueathong () also believed that Boromrachathirat used military strength to force Ramesuan out of the throne, saying this was probably why Ramesuan took revenge on Boromrachathirat's young son, Thong Lan, killing the child violently.Khrư̄athǭng, 2011: online.

These events were part of a series of conflicts between the houses of Uthong and Suphannaphum that would continue until Suphannaphum achieved decisive victory over Uthong at the end of Ramrachathirat's reign, allowing Suphannaphum to remain in power over the Kingdom of Ayutthaya for almost the next two centuries.Kasētsiri, 2005: 4–5, 22, 25–26.

Ancestry

References

Bibliography